How does ocean acidification change ocean chemistry? Lesson 3 of 5 Developed by Brian Erickson (Erickson.bd@gmail.com) ©2019
Demo: Candles in indicator How does this demo show ocean acidification? (Use this question as an informal probe to see what registered and what needs to be reinforce from yesterday.) Discuss student answers as full class. If needed, the following questions may prompt student recall: What happened at Whiskey Creek? Where is Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery? What is ocean acidification? What did we see in the visualization we watched?
What do you notice about these molecules/ions? Name Chemical Formula Carbonic Acid H2CO3 Bicarbonate HCO3- Carbonate CO32-
Ocean acidification involves the following steps 1. CO2 (g) ↔ CO2 (aq) 2. CO2 + H2O ↔ __________ CO2 moves from the air (as a gas) into water (aqueous form) What forms when water and carbon dioxide react?
Ocean acidification involves the following steps 1. CO2 (g) ↔ CO2 (aq) 2. CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3 3. H2CO3 ↔ ______ + _________ 2. Water and CO2 react to form carbonic acid 3. But carbonic acid breaks apart. What does it break apart into?
Ocean acidification involves the following steps 1. CO2 (g) ↔ CO2 (aq) 2. CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3 3. H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3- Why does adding CO2 to water make it more acidic/decrease pH? Where do you see that in these equations? 3. Hydrogen and bicarbonate ions form when carbonic acid breaks apart (dissociates) CO2 reacts and releases extra H+ into the solution. In the last equation, eq-6, the product is H+ which means it is created. We saw yesterday that increasing the [H+] decreases the pH.
Ocean acidification involves the following steps 1. CO2 (g) ↔ CO2 (aq) 2. CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3 3. H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3- 4. H+ + CO32- ↔ HCO3- What does this equation suggest happens to the [CO32-]? (It decreases, meaning there are fewer carbonate ions around.) Key Point: Adding CO2 to seawater lowers the pH AND decreases the carbonate concentration, among other changes. Both changes potentially impact marine organisms.
Upwelling Need upwelling slide